iPhone 8 sim-free - is it A1863 or A1905?

[lewisd25]

I wonder if someone could take a second to explain this to me ... just trying to wrap my head around this. Let's say someone is a T-Mobile customer, owns their phone, and is interested in the iPhone 8 -- when shopping on Apple.com, for what reason would they select "T-Mobile" as their carrier, as opposed to simply selecting the SIM-free version, then transplanting their existing SIM upon receipt of the phone? What am I missing?

The T-mobile iPhones from the Apple Store are unlocked and have a T-Mobile SIM card already installed which you will have to take out. The issue with the T-mobile and AT&T phones are that they lack support for CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon.

The Sim-free iPhones are unlocked and support all carriers, both GSM and CDMA. They tend to get a slightly higher resale value.

 

[cfs]

Technically it's not designed to, and you can't do this online. You may need to go to the Apple store and talk to a specialist. I've read some were successful in trying to get the sim-free model on iUP, and some not so successful. It all depends on who you talk to.

This is absolutely correct. When getting my wife on an iUP, I wanted the CDMA and GSM version and not the only GSM version- she has T-Mobile. One store flat out said no. I went to another another store and it wasn't an issue at all.

 

[videojanitor]

The T-mobile iPhones from the Apple Store are unlocked and have a T-Mobile SIM card already installed which you will have to take out. The issue with the T-mobile and AT&T phones are that they lack support for CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon.

Thanks for the clarification. Given what you said, I'm still a little confused as to why anyone would buy anything other than the SIM-free version?

 

[lewisd25]

Sim-free iPhones are usually unavailable at launch except for iPhone 8/8+, so many just buy the phone for their carrier.

Thanks for the clarification. Given what you said, I'm still a little confused as to why anyone would buy anything other than the SIM-free version?

 

[videojanitor]

Sim-free iPhones are usually unavailable at launch except for iPhone 8/8+, so many just buy the phone for their carrier.

OK, thanks. It's starting to make sense. I'm on T-Mobile, but ordered the SIM-free version as I couldn't find a good reason for ordering the T-Mobile specific.

 

[Septembersrain]

Sim-free iPhones are usually unavailable at launch except for iPhone 8/8+, so many just buy the phone for their carrier.

That and if you are using installment plans through the carrier. If you can't afford the device outright. You'll get stuck with whatever device that carrier has. Which for AT&T and T-Mobile customers, that means inferior Intel.

 

[BeeGood]

OK, thanks. It's starting to make sense. I'm on T-Mobile, but ordered the SIM-free version as I couldn't find a good reason for ordering the T-Mobile specific.

You’re doing the right thing IMO, like @Septembersrain said you’re getting a (technically) more capable phone by doing so.

I was very happy to see the SIM-free version available for pre-order.

 

[videojanitor]

You’re doing the right thing IMO, like @Septembersrain said you’re getting a (technically) more capable phone by doing so.

I was very happy to see the SIM-free version available for pre-order.

Sweet! Thanks for the confirmation. Some of this phone stuff can get a little convoluted, especially for someone like me who typically only upgrades every 3 years or so. I can remember when upgrading to a new phone was a major hassle, and usually involved wasting at least an hour or more in a store. Now I am hoping it is as simple as popping the SIM out of my 6+ and putting in the 8+. From what I am reading, it should be just that easy.

 

[ikleinit]

The Sim-Free model will be the one shown below because it has to work on Verizon/Sprint/US Cellular. So the sim free model is A1863/A1864

View attachment 717964

[doublepost=1506469937][/doublepost]so why does the 1864 cdma model not show compatibility with T-mobile/ATT?

 

[jbasciano123]

[doublepost=1506469937][/doublepost]so why does the 1864 cdma model not show compatibility with T-mobile/ATT?

And I'm wondering the same thing... It shows no compatibility with Tmobile or ATT.
https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-8-iphone-8-plus

Just yesterday, I bought an A1863 model. I have MetroPCS, which uses the Tmobile towers. Will I catch 700Mhz, band 12 with this phone on Metro? It says it supports it on the left column. But on the right column shows no Tmobile or ATT.

Also another note, I have 700mhz band 12 available in my area, and my phone only connects to band 4. I did that default test that came with the phone. *3001#12345#*

type the above in, and then hit the green call icon.

 

[jbasciano123]

Pretty clear what model version you are getting if you order the carrier versions.

But what model do you get when ordering the sim-free version?

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-8-iphone-8-plus

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/26/iphone-8-teardowns-modems/

 

[rickybit]

I ordered the sim free from the apple site and I believe it should be the A1863 model according to this site...
https://www.techwalls.com/iphone-8-plus-model-number-differences/
You don't want any other model as this is the only one that is CDMA or GSM...

Sim Free, Verizon and Sprint should be the same model...If it's not the A1863 I will return it...

Which model did you receive?

 

[zorinlynx]

Is there a downside to buying a Sim free phone? I have Verizon and am trying decide between the Verizon or Sim free iPhone 8 and it seems like Sim free is the obvious choice.

The only downside to a SIM-free phone is that your old SIM card may lack features that the new phone supports.

This happened to me when I bought a SIM-free iPhone 6. My old SIM from the iPhone 5 didn't support VoLTE. I had to go to an AT&T store to get my SIM replaced to get VoLTE (and WiFi calling later).

Buying a carrier phone may save you an extra trip if you have an old SIM card.

 

[gozikk]

The T-mobile iPhones from the Apple Store are unlocked and have a T-Mobile SIM card already installed which you will have to take out. The issue with the T-mobile and AT&T phones are that they lack support for CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon.

The Sim-free iPhones are unlocked and support all carriers, both GSM and CDMA. They tend to get a slightly higher resale value.

well yesterday, i visited the apple store, i asked the guy in the store the difference between sim-free version and t-mobile version. the guy said, the difference is the t-mobile one is locked and the sim-free is unlocked, but both are the same, which means sim-free version can use t-mobile signal perfectly like the t-mo version.

 

[Shadowbech]

well yesterday, i visited the apple store, i asked the guy in the store the difference between sim-free version and t-mobile version. the guy said, the difference is the t-mobile one is locked and the sim-free is unlocked, but both are the same, which means sim-free version can use t-mobile signal perfectly like the t-mo version.

There is quite a difference between the T-mobile model and Sim-Free model. Yes both are unlocked. However, T-mobile model uses Intel. Sim-Free Model uses Qualcomm.

 

[lewisd25]

well yesterday, i visited the apple store, i asked the guy in the store the difference between sim-free version and t-mobile version. the guy said, the difference is the t-mobile one is locked and the sim-free is unlocked, but both are the same, which means sim-free version can use t-mobile signal perfectly like the t-mo version.

There is quite a difference between the T-mobile model and Sim-Free model. Yes both are unlocked. However, T-mobile model uses Intel. Sim-Free Model uses Qualcomm.

T-mobile iPhones are unlocked but limited to GSM carriers only. Sim-free iPhones are unlocked and can be used on both GSM and CDMA carriers.

 

[MacAddict2000]

Can you get a sim free through Apple upgrade program?

No, but I discovered a loophole yesterday...

I bought a SIM-free iPhone 8 full price, used it for a week, then decided I wanted to do the iPhone Upgrade Program. I erased the phone because I assumed I would be returning it and purchasing a new one, but the Apple Store let me keep it. They just returned and resold me the same phone. I was pleasantly surprised, though not happy that I had to reset everything back up, haha.